So here we are starting to navigate through some real-life decisions. Some can be a bit stressful and others just darn confusing. I find myself getting too caught up in overthinking things. Time to take a walk through the vineyards, or watch a sunset or sunrise. Sit down in a field and just be. If you follow me on Facebook, you’ve seen tons of pics of our new home, food and surroundings. Feast for the eyes and all the senses. So just know, when real-life decisions start to crowd me, off I go into the fields, on farm roads, Romeo and Orso in tow. Just allowing the beauty to wash away any little worries that may try to crop up on this gorgeous canvas of life here in Italy.

So what could be so stressful? We bought a car this week. Well, we put a deposit on a car. The car wasn’t on the lot to drive home. Just one in the show room. We actually had to drive about 20 minutes down the road into a larger city to see  a few or to test drive one. Our car will be ready to pick up in about 3 months. Interesting concept… I’m sure if we had gone to a larger dealership, we’d be in our new car now. But we chose to work with this smaller dealer closer to home. Loyalty to the local businesses or was it just because we like the low key salesman… Either way, we’ll continue driving our rental and hopefully we’ll be surprised with an early Christmas gift. Last time I purchased a new car was probably about 20-25 years ago. This car isn’t expensive, so the stress isn’t related to cost, but I think that some of the stress or just uneasiness comes from the thought ‘what did I miss in the transaction because our business dealings were 90% in Italian’! And what did I buy? Dacia Duster by Renault. Google it.

Another reality check: dogs. Romeo needed a vet. He got an UTI because he rather hold his water than let it go. Most likely flight related. So you’re no longer on vacation when one of  your ‘children’ needs a doctor. We found an amazing vet located about 20 minutes from our house. She and all her staff are exceptional and Romeo is on the road to healing. Small world.. the vet’s brother is in water rescue with his Golden Retriever and hopefully he and I (and our dogs) will meet up soon. And we made a new friend with Dr. Borsini. And as we speak, Orso is struggling a bit with his arthritis. In my enthusiasm to put in lots of miles of trekking through the vineyards, I’ve overwalked the old man. So we’ve backed off on long walks with him, upped his supplements and hoping rest will get him back feeling better. If not, he’ll be meeting the doc real soon.

Dr. Borsini and two of her wonderful technicians. Romeo getting lots of love and great health care. Shown here a week later all healthy. Grazie mille!

Then there were bunches of silly things. I’m mixing up Tuesday (martedi) and Wednesday (mercoledi) and showing up at appointments on the wrong day.  Well, they’re both M words and I’m sure it’s happened to other transplants. I’m not paying attention to details and poor dear husband John drove us 2 1/2 hours to a lunch that was 3 days off. Just dumb stuff like that. Can wear you out if you let it get to you. If we find ourselves in a place on the wrong day or time, we just enjoy the moment. Look at something new, find some focaccia to eat and marvel at our surroundings.

So on the not so stressful meter, everywhere we turn, we are meeting and getting to know new people. Many of them are locals, such as Marco at the dealership or Dr. Borsini. But others are foreigners, such as us, buying (or renting) their future retirement homes. Yesterday, we traveled a few hours south into the region of Molise to meet some folks from Britian. Our friend, Angelo, from Palata, organzied a day in Agnone for all of us English speaking people. One couple hoped to move into their new home within the year. They  had been moving furniture and remodeling a lovely townhouse. The other family found their dream home in the countryside and were enjoying the process of remodeling. They have a 10 year plan before they would move permanently. We all toured the famous Campane Marinelli bell foundry, had a stop at a delicious cheese shop and then a lovely al fresco lunch at a local farm.

Feels like I’m in a movie or travel brochure. Pinch me!

Wish we had brought a cooler

When we lived in Virginia, I tended to spend a lot of time alone in the woods with my dogs. It’s how I refueled myself. I worked, enjoyed my time with my fellow workers, and would meet up with friends occasionally for a dinner out. But most of my time was spent training my dogs for search and rescue, whether at official trainings almost every weekend or informal ones during the week. Everyday was a training day to keep dogs keen on their jobs or to learn new ones. Maybe a lot of this was, not only enjoying the work that goes into providing a service, but filling up something in my life. Hang with friends that were all dog handlers, and all of us keen to talk about our dogs and where they were in their road to a certification. Now I’m finding time to experience the journey of meeting new people and making new friends in a totally different setting. I do miss SAR and my friends, but I’ve embraced this new chapter in my life. And I’m enjoying it! Part of the entire Italian package, I would say. Stretching me…

But I’ll leave you with another evening view from the house that fills my soul with amazing peace…. ciao for now.